North fork newbie - tips/suggestions?

[JayCee]

Howdy,

New to the area metro area, and just rented a house on the north fork at the end of the month. Hoping to get some fishing in (and scout for future fishing trips) while I'm there.

I'll have an 8'6" 5wt floating line with sinking tip and some back up spinning rods. Any suggestions for flies/gear? From Google maps it looks pretty wadeable right in front of the house. I'll have access to kayaks as well.

Assumeing target species is small mouth? I've heard about trout in the park, but I'd rather fish close to the house. Is it worthwhile even trying to rig up for trout during the summer near Strasberg? Anything else I should be targeting?

Also heard there is a good fly shop in the area (Murray's?). I figure I'll take a drive down this week to check them out and hopefully get some info.

Appreciate any info. Thanks!

[Daniel Lazenby]

Murray's fly shop in Edinburg is on main street. Easy to spot. If entering from I-81 exit, look to the left when you stop at the T with main street.

Murray usually has the pulse on bass fishing in the area. Considering you are at the house in late August the combination of low water and high temperatures often precludes trout fishing till the temperatures drop and the water rises in that area.

Daniel

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[Owen Williams]

You got a house on the North Fork? Living the dream! Be sure to send the list your address and we'll all come over!

Seriously thought, just to add to Daniel's post touting Murrays, I find his weekly reports to be strong: https://www.murraysflyshop.com/blogs/fishing-report/smallmouth-bass-and-carp-fly-fishing-report-july-30-2020. Stop by the shop and check out the map. Get your fishing in before or after the sun peaks, and concentrate on the deeper, shaded pools before and after riffles. A kayak would be ideal to get from spot to spot. 

Carp grow huge in the North Fork, but the clear and low water levels make them very spooky. While I am targeting smallies, I hooked a huge one on the Fourth of July with a 5 wt, but there was no way that I would win that fight. 

I spent this past Sunday until 1:30 fishing below Lupton Crossing at Seven Bends (parking $5). Landed a nice (13") smallmouth on a #6 Blue Slider and dozens of fat and aggressive green sunfish. Not much luck working things lower in the water column. 

Have a great trip!

Best, 

Owen

On Tuesday, August 4, 2020 at 9:54:27 AM UTC-4, Daniel Lazenby wrote:

Murray's fly shop in Edinburg is on main street. Easy to spot. If entering from I-81 exit, look to the left when you stop at the T with main street.

Murray usually has the pulse on bass fishing in the area. Considering you are at the house in late August the combination of low water and high temperatures often precludes trout fishing till the temperatures drop and the water rises in that area.

Daniel

On Tue, Aug 4, 2020 at 8:51 AM JayCee <jared....@gmail.com> wrote:

Howdy,

New to the area metro area, and just rented a house on the north fork at the end of the month. Hoping to get some fishing in (and scout for future fishing trips) while I'm there.

I'll have an 8'6" 5wt floating line with sinking tip and some back up spinning rods. Any suggestions for flies/gear? From Google maps it looks pretty wadeable right in front of the house. I'll have access to kayaks as well.

Assumeing target species is small mouth? I've heard about trout in the park, but I'd rather fish close to the house. Is it worthwhile even trying to rig up for trout during the summer near Strasberg? Anything else I should be targeting?

Also heard there is a good fly shop in the area (Murray's?). I figure I'll take a drive down this week to check them out and hopefully get some info.

Appreciate any info. Thanks!

--
http://www.tpfr.org
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[Dan G]

Harry Murray has a new book, “Virginia Blue-Ribbon Streams” and David Hart, “Flyfisher’s Guide to Virginia” are two books I view as valuable resources. IMHO there are many dated books available but our local waters have changed. Last week I decided I need to spend time fishing the Rappahannock/Rapidan Rivers junction. Less than 1.5 hours from my home. I have decided to give the Potomac a rest. If anyone has any intel, I’d love to hear suggestions. Thanks, Dan

[JayCee]

Hey guys, this is all great info. Really appreciate it. Looking forward to a few relaxing days at the end of the month, and many more weekend fishing trips in the future.

[JayCee]

Visited Murray's Fly shop today and spent some time talking to the man himself. What a gregarious and knowledgeable man.

[Gregg DiSalvo]

One of the nicest guys in the business.  Went in with my NYC cousin  few years back prior to starting a multi day float.  My cousin was beyond entertained by the way Mr. Murray kept saying excellent water near Luray.  "Aigcellent water near Lou-Ray!"

[JayCee]

Just got back from my trip. Cabin was right on the water, spent lots of time fishing. Generally pulled in about 3 fish/hour, fishing mid afternoon until evening. Even mix of green sunfish and small mouth. Nothing big, I'd say everything was between 6-8 inches. Water was clear, and rising over the past three days. I was using an 8.6 rod, 5 WT, with a knotted 2x leader and some extra tippet I picked up at Murray's. Everything was caught on either a number 6 olive streamer or a number 6 frog/popper out of a box of flys I got from Murray's as well. I probably could have used some smaller flys given the size of the fish. Lots of fish in the river in all the expected places. Lots of fun. Thanks again for all the recommendations!

[Owen Williams]

Thanks for the report JayCee! That's about how I did wading Seven Bends (Hollingsworth downstream) from 7:30 to 2:30 today (fishing usually shuts down around 11:30). 

Small, but great fighters--the toughest I've fought are two huge fall fish and a 13" smallie last week.